Thetownend.com

Game on or off?  :sherlock:

Currently on.

Could be off.

Could be on.

:)

Honestly think 70/30 in favour of off.

Humph

With temperatures barely getting above freezing today reckon it will get called off after a lunchtime inspection.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dXrHHS7yJSo

Weather station says it's -5C. That's frost cover penetrating.
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250110/313d4d6436e81dff9ec35cd98b800c65.jpg)

Barely above freezing all day and minus 3 tonight. Just assume it’s off tomorrow.

Wouldn't be a bad game to have cancelled, considering the defensive injuries and the lack of transfer activity so far. Birmingham on Tuesday should be fine, will be a mixed team anyway, then the league game against Barrow next weekend is a decent distance away so hopefully a few more bodies by then.

yeah, no chance this will be on

I'm sure we must have state of the art, heated covers?  ???

This.

Walsall have a heated tent according to my work colleague.

There was a bit on our local news just prior to Christmas, (look East - even though we are more central) featuring Cambridge United and Northampton Saints Rugby who had invested in renting these heated tent things. I think the rugby fella said that the heating bills would have cost £2,000 (unsure of the rental, or other costs involved) which seems a relatively small amount to ensure matches were played. 

If the clubs actually WANT the game played of course. If a postponement may help with injuries etc then maybe not.

Not saying it would be tactical it was called off ;)

More like tactically fortunate we’re skint and cannot even afford those ‘mysterious’ bales of straw…

They've got those light heaters in haven't they?

It's only ever usually a patch in the corner of DRS/Town End that doesn't get as much sun on it that is usually a problem unless its way below freezing.

Or 8,000 volunteers to sleep overnight on the CG pitch  :)

They have, but I thought they were used to increase grass growth rather than defrost.

Edit:




Beer #fittonIn.

Digging a frozen pitch is a bitch.

1:30pm
There are a fair few games across the country being postponed tomorrow. It is fairly frosty here but I was at The Nigel Eady County Ground yesterday and the covers and heat lamps were on, so hopefully they will do their jobs and get the game on.


Let’s remember a lot of these games have been called off due to FAC games, not the weather.

A cost-benefit analysis will only be performed when it involves doing *less* (such as not opening a stand) and not when it involves doing *more* (and meaning a Saturday off for the CEO....)

The club must be confident that the game will be on as it wouldn’t make sense leaving a pitch inspection until tomorrow morning when conditions aren’t going to change and that Crewe have more than likely travelled down this evening.

Has a league match ever been postponed due to a “frozen club shop puddle”. It’ll be like an ice rink, and could be quite good fun.

How many years do you think that puddle, has been re-appearing? I can confidently say I’ve been watching for 20 years and it’s always been there!

It’s -6 this morning so if the game goes ahead that will have been a fantastic effort by all involved.

Pretty sure we called a match off a few years ago for spectator safety writ large when the pitch was fine.

But weird the club haven't given the all clear or the dreaded pitch inspection news

Typical of this club -  no communication whatsoever.
They must surely know by now if there’s an inspection or not.
No consideration for supporters that travel.

Pitch has been covered since NYD & these only come off this morning. Believe all is good to go.

It's absolutely shit.

No conspiracy theory over maximizing ticket sales or anything like that, just amature hour again.

Good good. I'm amazed and pleasantly surprised.

All they need to say is "no need for a pitch inspection", though I don't know who does the wider area and when

I agree that the coms are shit. Like I said, as of right now all is good to go. Whether the cold snap this morning after the covers have been taken off have the time to get into the pitch I’ve no idea.

All up to the refere I believe.

No news is good news?

There's so many things to bash the club about, I'm not sure this is one.   As it stands the game is on and there has been no hint that it isn't other than it's really fucking cold.

If it gets called off none of us will be surprised, nor will any Crewe fan.   I've been to a number of away games that have been called off at lunchtime or even 5 mins before kickoff (Colchester last season).   On a day like today it's a risk you are aware of and willing to take, especially when your team is second in the league - you assume it is on unless told otherwise.

TBH - I'm surprised that we've made the effort to get the game on given all the injuries and their form

Surely the ref just does the pitch.

The stands and surrounding areas is the issue. I'm sure I'll be club lead with ob assistance

Salisbury have just announced their game is off.

Grimsby are having a pitch inspection at 10.30, 2 hours before KO after removing their frost sheets. I'm guessing, given its still below freezing we'll be removing ours as late as possible given temps are supposed to get to 2 or 3 degrees by KO.

Edit - certain parts of the Grimsby pitch deemed unplayable so their game is off as well.

Wimbledon having a pitch inspection at 12.30

https://x.com/Official_STFC/status/1878035398644978022?t=lEfEBYySJxki6bp9GcmXyw&s=19

Oh well, lazy Saturday it is...I reckon

A tad too late for the Crewe fans and other traveling fans

Is midday that late for a pitch inspection really? People seem fuming, I get that away fans have already travelled but if you did it at 9am you'd need to do it again before kick off.

Isn’t the timing the ref’s decision anyway?

It's a tough balance of taking the covers off as late as possible for the inspection in order to give the pitch the best chance of being playable as well as giving enough time to announce the cancellation decision to fans travelling.

I can understand why they've left it until midday. Hopefully we'll be able to get the game on.

To be honest sometimes the clubs can't win, if games are called off early and then the weather proves to not be as bad the day after the fans moan about 'why call off so early' etc.

Think so. Someone just told me they get the match fee regardless if the game is off or not. (Dunno how accurate that is)

Will it depends. There could have been an early initial inspection of the problem areas - then call it off there and then if it's obvious.

It's not going to defrost today.

Just telling people what's going on earlier would be a start. They can make their own minds up then.

Appears it’s keeps freezing since the covers were removed this morning, latest info I have so I imagine the ref will call it off tbh.

I'd imagine it penetrated the covers anyway, away from the grow lights.

Either way, if it's not off I'll be amazed.

Calling it off so late would be poor by the club considering the forecast and that Crewe would have travelled last night and the fans will be on their way.

Don't know if I'm in the minority or not but I've got my fingers crossed it is called off. Maybe some of our injury woes will have eased off by the time of the reschedule.

My head says this but I really miss not having a game on a Saturday afternoon.

Off, off, off, off.......

It's hardly rare if it's up to the ref, I remember the Accrington game getting binned at very short notice a few years back, we were on the way down (it was only about an hr drive) so we diverted and went on the piss from a mates house but I know the players and a fair few fans were already there.

I do remember that game I’m sure a few went and watched Burnley

Last game attended was the Grimsby SO69 Clem Out protest.

I'm a bit out of the loop, but my question is, on Non-designayed protest days:

To wear or not to wear the orange protest hat at the CG?

Any guidance welcome.

They've certainly encouraged everyone to wear one at all games.

What time is pitch inspection?

12

If you agree with the cause, wear one. I will be if it's on

Game On

Game on

Fuck you Batch you Hooters perv! 😉

Takes one to know one!

Haha, it was my stag to be fair!

Typical. Decided not to go after the general opinion that it'd be off. Ah well,saved meself a 100 quid. COYR

Congrats.

Oooh. You were on the big table..

We could have been 2-0 down to Liverpool at half time😁

Tranmere losing 2-0 at Walsall which is good news!

Trannies down to 10 men but have just made it 2-1

Hopefully Walsall will make the extra man pay in the second half and score a few more.

It’s been all Trannies since Walsall scored their second!

I wouldnt be surprised that the game could still be called off yet with the fog at the CG.

Thanks for the feedback.  SO69 Orange it is! 

Pitch right now.

(https://i.postimg.cc/65qjqXwt/Untitled.jpg)

I see Ameen didnt play in the youths 3-1 victory at Newport so could well be on the bench again today.

Scored a hatrick for them on Thursday. Obodo missing from today's side too along with a few others.

Harry Chard played though, wouldn't be shocked if he was around the first team while Cox is injured.

It would be ironic if the fog sets in and ends up postponing the game.

Not seen much of Chard yet but if he impresses he could be around the 1st team.

Ollie did say the other day that he thinks Ameen is good enough for a place in the squad.

Are we going to see Nichols start?

I wouldnt be surpised especially if Smith still not fully fit.

(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GhA0hYjWQAAHgMA?format=jpg&name=large)

Yes Nichols starts alongside Smith.

18 year old Lucas Myers on the bench.

No defensive cover on the bench.

3-1 Walsall

Make that 4-1

I didn’t realise that Crewe wee second in the league🤣

Khan on the subs bench.

No Longelo
A lesser spotted Cain

Will wait until after the game to make my judgement, but not overly convinced by the three up top tactic again

I think Longelo is injured again.

AFC Wimbledon game against Cheltenham called off at 1pm, thats late.

5-1

Need a win today as they’ve played a game less.

Or Clarke drops back into a 3 as he has before and Nichols plays 10 behind Smith and Drinan.

Its a slight change in normal formation but it makes sense to me too.

We'd have played three games extra than Accrington and Newport after today.

Has Barden gone back?

We could go up to 18th with a win though.

He got the facial injury vs Notts didn't he.

Looking at that team it's hard to see why we've tried so hard to get this game on. Surely it's a handy frozen pitch week off?

 Ah e Clem is desperate for the revenue and cat wait.

He did indeed.

Ah, cheers.

Need 8 wins before the end of the season.

Could not agree more. With our injury list growing, playing a team in form with the possibility of the lowest crowd of the league season given the conditions why in hell was it not called off yesterday? All the makings of another shambles.

Or 7 and half a dozen or so draws!

Unfortunately agree.

Sounds like the upper part of the DRS is closed due to the weather and people having to find new seats...

https://x.com/dylanctomes/status/1878090180197757340?t=HaSVbG7yUyKxExiw4mcY6g&s=19

A friend who has just arrived into the Arkells has suggested there are fewer turnstiles open than usual.

Currently stood queuing up for the DRS, and the queues are stretching back to the Town End.

https://x.com/jordanb1234/status/1878091820216828105?t=HklFxw6BFjPmAXaHaS-xDw&s=19

Could it delay the kick off🤔

Good to see they have salted the steps in the stands - Ralphy just sent me a photo of the row he sits in and its sheet ice

Opening themselves up to claims if there were any injuries.

Why the Crewe commentary?

Actually it’s the Sunderland v Stoke commentary. Wtf

My expectations of these lot were already low but fuck me. I'm beginning to think they actually couldn't organise a piss up in a brewery.

Like literally and not a figure of speech.

The big lump Omar Bogle always a bit of an unpredictable handful up front for them.

They certainly wouldn't pay the brewery on time afterwards...

Fine on iFollow, Zippy on co comms.

Can’t see fa with the fog

That's alright, we got knocked out of that competition a few weeks ago now...

Fucking hell this is hard following the ball.

I can’t see the ball…

Yeah can't see fuck all here. Its bright skies just a few miles away where I am.

25 minute queue to get in, missed kick off. Absolute joke considering there is 6500 here.

Can't see ANYTHING! Continues like and it'll be called off

Bright and sunny here

Its gotten worse.

This isn’t going ahead is it?

https://www.reddit.com/r/ColorizedHistory/comments/7npt0p/goalkeeper_sam_bartram_alone_on_the_pitch_not/

Game over.

Amazing stuff.

Like how on earth could a linesman give offside in these conditions…

I wonder if the games off - whether refunds will be given

Piss poor all round should have been called off yesterday

This is shocking, knew there would be fog! Why not call this off first thing this morning!

Should never have started.

Has it been suspended or called off completely🤔

I'm in the DR, can't see Stratton bank goal, can't see the Arkells, can barely see TE goal.

I can't see this continuing.

What’s going on - the tannoy isn’t working where I’m sitting

Suspended.

I mean we did play about 2 minutes.

Is that long enough for the game to count. I’d take 0-0 tbh

Cheers JJ, waiting for the fog to clear then!

That got so much worse so quickly.

Its SO bright in other parts of Swindon. Its gotta pass, surely.

It did get significantly worse quickly tbf based on TV.

Seems very local to the ground, it wasnt foggy outside the ground either before the game just inside the ground.

Half past ref inspection

We might start again but simply no chance we finish

If we had the seemingly usual wind conditions it would blow right away.

It’s getting foggier where I am - so hopefully it’s passing this way.
Depends on where it’s worst I suppose.

The fog can't escape the wind tunnel.

2.32pm v 3:10pm(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250111/7a371fd9f3bb98d1b379503c98cb553f.jpg)(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20250111/376728599f2eaa9a4a4f2fc09f0408ac.jpg)

How long do they wait

….was waiting for the Undertaker to appear.

Reassessing at 3.30 apparently.

Until 3:30

This lot will do a Lee Power vs Bristol Rovers ticket deal i will imagine

The club is certainly in need of a Tombstone.

Would we have to pay for the Crewe expenses hotel etc🤔

Should play his music for the banter.

I doubt Crewe stayed over as its only 2 and a half hour drive.

That was my last straw with Power.

My last straw with Clem came yonks ago, not even sure what it was.

Fair point meanwhile,

Fans at the County Ground have been told referee Lee Swabey is planning to conduct a visibility inspection at 15:30 GMT, after which he will get in touch with EFL officials to decide the best course of action.

It looks to be clearing a bit but nowhere near enough to play.

I'll take a draw

It has a moment of clearing and then it fogs up completely again.

This had been lingering around the CG for hours, I saw a photo around midday and it looked similar to now. Can't see how we get 90 mins completed

Nichols played a great game easily MotM today.

Imagine any Brum scouts would be pissed off😁

Hope it goes ahead.  This lot will never be bested in wind tunnels or whiteouts

It's the heat coming off the pitch

Why? Ref concluded that the pitch was playable and visibility was OK to kick off.

Club is a shit show but it's clutching at straws to try and lay the blame on fog at their door?

Clem will personally phone every fan and ask if they’ll accept a £5 Woolworths voucher rather than a refund

You can actually see the scoreboard now on TV. Struggled to work out what the camera was pointing towards when I first looked up a while ago.

Cleared slightly, whether it’s cleared enough is another discussion

Depends how long they can afford to wait.

It appears to be clearing but no where near enough to kick off again at 3:30

Definately lifting.

Mrs just come back from Miller and Carter and said could barely see cars on the road. Not a great sign.

Fog? Or just she was half cut… ;-)

I don't think this has improved much more in the last 7 or 8 mins. Its gotten as good as it'll get and may get worse again.

Lee Swabey is in conversation with Ian Holloway and Crewe boss Lee Bell on the touchline... there's a checking of watches. Is this a good sign?

Restart 4pm

We go again, for 10 mins..

Could be earning a few quid in the bars

Good job it wasn’t an evening game

No way will this game finish IMO.

It soon will be

Never considered the heat of the players affected conditions.

Might restart & have the same thing happen again…

😁

It is already foggier now that it was when they stated it would kick off at 4....

Holloway mentioned body heat of players may have made it worse. Hopefully doesn't happen again. Although players are out there warming up anyway

As soon as the darkness comes in and the floodlights are in full effect it will be abandoned

And now it’s back to basically being unplayable

No way this starts again as it is.

Not going to start again IMO.

Ok maybe it will re start!

Surely its in Swindon favor to get the game called off with the amount of injuries we have ?

I’ve not been in the country for a few weeks so no idea how bad the weather is but fog aside surely if parts of the DRS are unsafe and closed then surely the match should never have had the go ahead in the first place? Seems bizarre that it’s even got to this stage.

Crewe have came out fired up.

Can anyone see what is going on ?

This is fucking ridiculous.

As long as they keep the ball down this side of the ground then it’s fine! 😂

Bad miss by Crewe after Nichols was robbed on the half way line.

The circus has been in town for a while, but this is taking it to a whole new level

Good run by Sobo and his cross to Drinan is decent but his shot is deflected wide for a corner.

Bogle was 10 yards offside and yet still argues it! what a twat.

Remember 2 games as bad as this.
QPR in the FA Cup at Loftus Road and a night match at the County Ground.
Town won in London and can't remember the one in Swindon. However took hours to get home and got lost between Longcote and Stanford in the vale.

We had a 0-0 with Scunthorpe in Macaris first season and we couldnt see the half way line from the TE but still finished the game.

Clarke long shot knocked wide for a corner to Town.

Remember we won 1-0 away at Mansfield in the late 70’s and couldn’t see the goal as it was the other end of the pitch.

Another corner on the other side, good delivery from Wright to Drinan again.

Ofoborh shot blocked by the keeper and Drinan misses a fairly good chance.

Blackburn at home Boxing Day 1989. Was fine first half, could hardly see anything second half. We won 4-3, I couldn't see Steve Foleys winning goal (I think it was him!)

We also played on mud patches, had one sub and were allowed to make contact with other players in the 70's and 80's..  it's not the 70's or 80's..

At the moment it looks to be a bit better fog wise.

Crewe player going off injured.

I think I remember playing Bradford and the game getting abandoned due to fog I think it was late 80s

And not always for the better.

I vaguely remember Brighton at home being abandoned years ago.

Nichols is definately more of a provider than a striker.

Sobo wins another Town corner. On the left wing.

Crewe definately not as strong on set peices at the back.

Another corner.

That Brighton game...think town 3.0 up at the time as well.

Do you reckon we have a the team with the slowest average sprint speed in the league?

We probably would be if we didnt have Sobowale in the team.

I was there, on the Bank. Remember seeming Town players coming out of the gloom and putting us 2 or 3 nil up. Game abandoned and then we got dicked when it was replayed!

Anyone have a reliable stream for todays game ?

Clarke hits the outside of the post, great chance.

It’s was his cross field sprint that triggered the question.

Whilst Sobowale isn’t slow - I wouldn’t say he was top tier pacey either

Kilkenny beats his man and tries a shot just wide from 20 yards.

That’s the game I was thinking of

Good high take by Bycroft.

Smith through on goal but the defender just robs him on the edge of the box.

Bogle yet again offside.

….and kicked the ball away.

I never realised before how much of a whinger he is too.

Great diagonal by a Crewe player but his cross is blocked by Sobo for a corner.

Is the fog getting better? Or worse? Or both?

I really can’t tell

It gets better then worse almost instantly, never know such fluctuation so fast.

FK to Town 30 yards out at the angle.

Poor FK by Wright hits the wall and is cleared.

Kilkenny wins another Town corner.

Clarke wins another corner, number 7.

Poor corner easily caught by the keeper.

Good play by Sobo, Kilkenny and Kirkman down the left.

Corner to them.

Deep corner but a foul in the box gives us the ball.

2 mins added.

Smith inches away from Kilkennys cross.

Should have scored that.

HT 0-0

Not a bad performance from Town TBH.

1h 45 to complete the first half. Could be here until 7 here!

Memorable.

Pretty decent half. Maybe the conditions, but Crewe don't look anything special to me. We've definitely been on top

Good half. Think we’ve just shaded it by looking a little more threatening in front of goal.

This.

Drinan should really have scored early on, Clarke also should have scored when he hit the post and again Smith really should have scored on HT but Crewe should have been 1-0 up early on with a terrible miss with a near open goal.

Crewe look quite smart breaking, especially down our RHS and looking to time their runs in behind.  Unsuccessfully.  We've been matching them or better on goalmouth action.  

From what I can see.  A day for an ORANGE ball
  Pity they're banned. :)

We're gonna win this

Stick a hat on it!

Fog cleared up almost totally now.

The sub replaced the sub for Crewe.

Can see the away section for the first time, looks a decent turnout by Crewe of between 400 and 500.

Nichols shot saved after a great set up by Smith.

Could've done wi' that

Drinans touch is very poor today.

Delaney has a long shot easily saved though.

Kirkman and Smith link up well and it ends with a Kilkenny shot well wide, nice move. The flick by Smith was sublime.

We do sound on top now. Need to find the net.

TBH Crewe were on top for the first 10 mins of the game but its been mostly Swindon ever since then.

Sobo wins the 8th corner.

Town 12 shots, 3 on target
Crewe 3 shots, 0 on target.
Watch them nick it  >:(

Win would be massive, come on town.

Att: 6,638 (433 Crewe)

The first ten minutes was the length of a normal football match to be fair to them.

Clarke loses the ball in a great position.

True :)

Ofoborh has been excellent this half.

Smith has won pretty much everything pumped up to him today again.

I thought he was very good first half too.

Looked like a penalty.

Nice to be able to see, but it worries me we are wasting this dominance.

Another corner for Town, wasted by Wright.

thats one of THE worst throw ins I have ever seen!

I would get Drinan off as hes been really poor today, loads of running but his touch has been awful, Get Glatzel on for some pace up front.

Without wearing his Batman mask, looked like Smith was looking for that penalty rather than there being enough contact to warrant the falling over..

Another corner to Town from Drinans poor cross.

Easy claim by their keeper.

Ameen on for Nichols.

Wow!

Drinan’s been poor today

Nichols had some very good touches but looked a bit rusty, understandably, good link up play though.

Go on kid

Probably our poorest performer for me.

Weak foul given against Sobo there 20 yards out near the touchline.

Ameen always a willing runner closing down the keeper well there.

Kilkenny wins a foul from another weak challenge near the touchline 15 yards out.

Nichols looked decent. A step up in quality from what we’ve seen this season from Glatz and Drinan

Smith heads high and wide in the 6 yards. Got too much on it.

Very similar positionally to Butterworth but much better.

Sobo gives away a corner.

Sobo gives away a FK near the touchline 30 yards out.

Sobowale does so many good things but at the same time a lot of bad

This, 100% this.

Controversial but I think Kirkman is an upgrade on Cox.

Perhaps defensively but Cox is better going forward. I do like Kirkman. I’d play him over Cox.

100% this (to quote a phrase)

Kilkenny fouled 30 yards out near the touchline.

Come on Wright your set peices have been poor today.

FK straight into touch with no one getting to the cross.

Can we take Drinan off now please?

Kirkman with a great tackle on the edge of the box with the striker clean through.

Corner to them.

Kirkman at LB with Cox at LW in a 442 would be decent.

Ameen breaks with pace but his control isnt good enough.

Good save by Bycroft.

Drinan gives the ball away cheaply yet again.

Cotterill on for the very good Ofoborh.

Wrong sub

Cotterill with an awful first touch gives it away.

Not a clue where we are in time. How long to go?

Drinans good cross evades everyone and it comes to Smith who finds Clarke and his shot is deflected for another corner.

4 plus added.

Ta

FFS Drinan.

Sobo heads out for a corner under not much pressure.

This feels very late winnery. Not quite sure who for.

Gotta be lowest in years that. If not in total then lowest home attendance.

Us obviously!

Come on town

Oh Drinan!!

Oh dear.

Butterworth on for Drinan, 20 mins too late.

2 mins added.

FK to them 40 yards out.

Ameen breaks well and Kilkenny cant get a shot in.

FT 0-0

Pretty solid performance by Town. Probably deserved the win TBH.

Will take that. A point gained on Tranmere at least.

Decent point over all.
Could have won that. Crewe could have nicked it.

Good point but,still in the mire

Good point all in all. They're a decent, hard-to-beat side.

0-0.

Performance/result has got me thinking we’re getting out of this.

Couple of real nice cameos from Ameen.

Wow! What an exciting 0-0! I feared that they would get an undeserved winner.

Well, not quite sure how that game finished, but fair play. Decent point, probably the better side but just relieved not to get sucker punched at the end tbh.

Drawing our way to the Morfuni Marker (formerly Beamish Line). Probably time to start tracking that...

Holloway has turned us into a hard-working but limited midtable side. Which to be clear is a huge step forward from where we were prior to the Colchester debacle!

Home form has really picked up recently. With Barrow and Tranmere at home later this month, we've a great chance of putting more points on the board.

Decent point. Crewe looked poor but suppose they had a couple chances to win it. Nichols should’ve done much better with his chance early in the second half and Drinan was wasteful. I like Drinan, think he has a big part to play for us, but his composure in front of goal is woeful.

We should. Gives us something to aim for a bit better than just the relegation line.

Good point in the grand scheme of things. We had more than enough chances to win however. The game highlighted that we need a quick right sided wide player in place of Drinan.

Holloway needs to be given credit he seems to know what he’s doing and knows what players are needed to get us up the league.

Holloway:
- Absolutely fantastic effort by everyone
- Didn't want the game called off, but it was borderline.
- Referee handled it superbly
- Well done to the EFL and their manager
- It could have been a lottery, but it wasn't
- We had the better of the chances
- Delighted with the first clean sheet
- We looked really solid
- The more the game went on the better we got
- Massive positive to be able to do that against a team where they are
- Brought Ameen on as a winger, because he can run with it
- The way he floats and runs with the ball: He's impossible to stop
- His skillset was slightly different from the other lads.
- Nicholls is cup tied so wont play on Tuesday. Thats why he started and had lots of minutes today
- Well done to those lads who weren't playing so well a few weeks ago
- We have to keep building
- The crowd enthused Holloway today. He felt the lads grow
- That's why Ameen could do what he did. Noone got on his back when he tripped over the ball with his first touch
- Well done to all the volunteers anf groundsman for getting the game on
- Longelo had a sore knee part way through the week. Swelling has now gone, but he hadn't been training for the last 2 days
- Barden wasn't close to being involved today. But Bycroft was outstanding. 'It wasn't his fault before was it?'
- We are getting stronger every day. Wasn't pleased when he came in, but is pleased now
- We are nowhetre near where Holloway wants to be. But that's a good marker against a team that is second. You wouldn't have known who was second.
- Hopefully be able to bring other skillsets to the squad. Its difficult to build when the squad was built by a lot of other people.
- Its a real tough thing to do in this window. So wants to make best use of what we have got (as well as adding)
-  Wright and Delaney were outstandin
- Most players were playing at 8.5-9 today
- Its so great to what it was.
- We are working hard and they are earning the right to wear the shirt. But if Holloway doesn't see it, they won't have it!

Utter shit show communication with the stewards and fans. Got in and some fans were ushered to the TownEnd and some to the lower seats in the DRS without any reason why.
Minutes before kick off, many fans in the DRS lower section moved up to their usual seats. Obviously us fans that got moved to the Townend wanted to move back.
Along comes one senior steward acting all highly and arrogant blatantly refused with no reasoning (fair play to the general ones, they were sound and understood). Took a high up supervisor to resolved the situation and allow us back. Clusterfuck. :(

 

I have always thought that when a team is at the top end of the table things a simple as a bad bounce seem to go your way, the same with shots, free kicks, corners etc. and today’s game was a good example as I am sure the chances we had would have been put away were we not where we are. Perhaps just my very biased view!

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNfiUhFhH3Y

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rS5Lp7dTUSc

BBC match report says that's the first league clean sheet in 99 days. Blimey.

Decent point against one of the division's premier teams.  Sadly they are many levels above us. We could learn a lot from Crewe .

On the pitch, I thought that was a very good performance. We had the better chances and probably should have won. Kirkman was my MOTM.

Off the pitch a shambles though, why is there a 20+ minute queue to get in when there is only 6500 there! Never had that before apart from a full on sell out!
Section of the DR initially cordoned off before being opened again.
Lack of hot water.

Embarrassing off the pitch, but encouraged but what I saw on it

Yes the club needs to smash the cliques that run the place on a Saturday.  Not only were the queues ridiculous but when the players went off they had a golden opportunity to sell sell sell.  But the staff say they can only sell alcohol at half time.  They really should be better informed.  Get the same bullshit from the staff in the lounges.  The lack of basic business acumen is staggering.  Whilst it was an unplanned event you’d hope that they have a semblance of a plan.

https://sgsa.org.uk/regulatory-support/legislation/alcohol-at-football-grounds/

On the pitch they played well today.  I liked the setup up top with smith, Drinnan (like seriously who the fuck is this player he is unrecognisable in a positive way), with Nichols behind.  Really unlucky today just couldn’t quite finish it off. 


Just need to convert these performances into three points more often.

Well done referee today got most decisions right today with weather.


https://sgsa.org.uk/regulatory-support/legislation/alcohol-at-football-grounds/

Good performance. Kirkman, Smith, Ofoborh and Kilkenny stood out. Delaney is improving all of the time. We deserved to win that, and Nichols in particular should have buried his chance, but it’s still a good point, well earned, and a memorable day with that weather.

Lots of what went wrong today was the weather and not the fault of the club. The ground staff deserve particular praise - absolutely superb effort to get it on. I look at that group - plus Wright, Clarke, Sobowale - and I want them here next year, as with some spark added, they could take us in the right direction.

The things that fall to the club management though, like having having no stock, bars closed, and turnstiles open, are a joke. I heard of half hour queues to get in. Clem, It’s Still Time. Even your manager has realised you haven’t a clue, after a couple of months here.

Here’s some support for Anthony Hall:

* Buy some club shop stock. We went looking again for shorts and socks for my son’s kit. You’re missing out on revenue.
* Employ some turnstile staff. People don’t buy stuff in queues. They do in the ground (subject to the below).
* Open all of the DRS bars. If you serve people quickly, you sell more stuff.
* Buy some food to sell. Helps.

All of these things should be ridiculously simple and make you money.

Bring on Barrow.

Cox isn't injured now? haha wtf.

Brilliant  ;)

down to bare bones now.

Incredible that we managed to get a full game today.
From the great work by Matt & his team to get a playable surface, through to the ref giving the fog a chance to clear enough to get through 90 mins.

For the playing side, they put in another performance, and I said to my son on the way back to the car, you certainly wouldn’t have said that Crewe were that far ahead of us.

Now for the bad, the DRS was a joke today.
Not enough turnstiles open, leading to big queues
We weren’t allowed to go to our seats, because there was ice (presumably nobody could have guessed that would be the case until after fans were in the ground.
When we did get in big chunks of the seats were taped off, until some fans ripped the tape down & sat in their seats anyway.

I’m sure the Morfuni apologists will find a way to say it’s not the club’s fault, but it’s becoming a total embarrassment

On the conditions: Great effort from the ground staff to get the pitch playable in the conditions this week. Credit also to the ref for allowing the chance for the game to go ahead, the decline in vision from kick off to 2/3 minutes in was mental, happened so fast. Thought for sure it was going to be off just before 4pm when they were about to come back out and the fog descended again. Now for the bad bits, as mentioned above, the DRS was really bad. Long queues, iced over aisles, single line of tape blocking sections with no reference/direction from stewards.

On the game: I can see why IH was desperate to get it on, those first half conditions turned the game into a free for all and that pegged Crewe down to a level pegging with us. Early on Crewe had some neat play around the box but struggled for the final ball/shot, we should have done better (if that’s not unfair with the conditions) with some chances as well. Second half we were good value for a winner and but for some more clinical forwards then we would have done, which has been the case for a while now. Think worries of relegation are easing slightly with the improvement of these recent performances but things can deteriorate quickly and we’re far from safe yet.

On the side: As I was sliding and skating towards my seat pre match, a gentleman sat near me gave me a few sarcastic comments about my orange hat and reference along the lines of us needing to be thankful to the club for getting it clear to get the game on. Think he’s been loading that up for a couple of games now since the hats have come out, repeated it further when I didn’t respond. Did amuse me, shows further proof of the opposition to the SO69’s campaign not understanding the fundamental reasoning of it and the message of not having any dissatisfaction directed at IH, the team or any of the hardworking day to day staff at the club who got today on (properly, bar the caveats mentioned above in the DRS).

.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=so1KJXxflyc

1st in 11 games apparently according to Hawes post game.

Oh and a mention for the ref, I didnt think the game could go ahead at all but he was proved right and TBH I thought he handled the game as good as any ref we have had this season, never ever looked like he would lose control and let the game flow well.

I need to start going to games because I'll fucking love it if someone says something stupid to me. Fucking Kevin Kegan level love it.

Well said RE: Hall etc. It’s not rocket science. I think one of the food outlets that was open in the ground had maybe only 2 card machines so the speed of serving was severely limited. I wanted to buy a coffee but the queue was too long so that’s lost revenue and I won’t have been the only one. Also not sure if anyone mentioned but a door fell off a cubicle in the DRS. The place is falling apart. Not sure where this stadium maintenance money has been spent.

Photos from DRS & Arkells

If the club can’t do it maybe the trust should take over match day operations, food outlets etc and obviously re-invest profit. Take it off Hall’s plate.

It's the clubs legal responsibility to confirm to health and safety and do appropriate risk assessments. Why would the trust do that?

Perhaps you can suggest the rest to James Spencer ;)

Complimentary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgF0GGYtYug&pp=ygUIY3Jld2UgZmM%3D

I wasn't a fan of appointing Holloway, and I am still not sold on him being much kop long term.  Where I think someone like him may be helping us a little right now is simplifying everything.  He has made us very basic, done away with the complicated triangles to build possession and instead focused on one asset we do have, a big forward.  I think he'd buy a couple of wingers if he could, to further use that.  Overall, the squad is very limited - I don't watch us at the moment thinking anyone is playing much below their level - what we see is what we get from them.  There isn't much more than they are producing right now.   However, we look like a mid table L2 team now.  It's still not great (we deserved a win yesterday and there were some entertaining periods, but it was an atrocious standard, all around), but it seems to be what we need given the context of where we are.

Well that was a tricky watch, i wasnt there on Saturday but the 'is it, isnt it?' was an ongoing drama. I really didnt think it would be on at all at one point.

Shame we fluffed our lines in front of goal because i really did think we did enough to win it.

Valuable point and some key games coming up and we are no longer easy to beat.

We now appear to be not far off good - A bit of pace up front and someone who can put the ball in the back of the net would make a massive difference.

I see the Adver gave Drinan a 7. I sort of understand that for his running and making a nuisance of himself, but with the ball and in threatening areas, he was more a 3. I think Ameen looked more of a threat, but, again, I had little confidence in him scoring.

I wasn’t a fan of the Holloway’s appointment originally but was more than happy to give him a go based purely on the fact he was a very different appointment compared to all our recent (failure) managers blah blah youth academy coaches blah blah possession football blah blah stats blah blah

He’s the first manager we’ve had in years that hasn’t tried to stamp a philosophy (sick) & a style of play well above the player’s capabilities.

It’s simple, it’s basic but it plans to put strengths & is getting results. Very Flitcrofty in that sense.

Tricky is the right word. In the first half ( before and after the suspension ), I had no idea what was happening from my spot in the DRS. There was a triangle from the Stratton bank goal over to almost the Crewe dugout where I couldn't tell you what was going on. The were more times than I care to admit where I was looking towards their goal before noticing that ball was in our half!

My son and I left at HT due to a combination of being frozen, having plans, plus the sense that no way was the fog going to lift and it would be abandoned anyway.

However, from what I could see if that first half and from the radio commentary in the second, we performed pretty well against a decent side. A point is actually disappointing, but what a far cry from a couple of months ago.

The ground staff, the players, the coaching staff and the ref should be applauded for the efforts to get the game on and then to perform like that.

As for the rest behind the scenes, comically amateur. The queues, the lack of comms, the lack of food and drink. Ridiculous. In modern football, how many times are we told that it's tiny 'one percent' improvements that can be the difference between a good side and a bad one. If that's the case, why would any owner or senior staff member not want to get those things right. Those little things might not add up to a direct difference on the pitch, but I'm sure that I can't be alone in thinking that I make more positive noise to support the team if I'm fed, watered and told what the fuck is going on. Every little helps.

Of course, having an ownership structure who seem to have other priorities inside the club than football might mean that they couldn't care less......

You mean he doesn't come with a reputation of being a 'good coach' which roughly translates to 'he tells the team to make 60,000 passes that go nowhere and doesn't do much else?'

That is refreshing tbf.

I have said we remind me of Flitcroft's reign.  That is not a good thing, but a necessary thing for now.

Just had a thought (apologies if already mentioned) that we haven't conceded a goal from open play in the past 3 home games. 3 goals conceded, all penalties.

I wonder how the individual cock ups seem to have been absolutely minimised.

You could argue giving penalties away are still cock ups, although the two against Colchester were an absolute joke so I'll forgive them.

Just by simplifying what they do I guess.

Whilst the second penalty was an absolute farce - if Sobowale had headed it towards Barden better and/or he’d been off his line a bit quicker then that situation wouldn’t have arose.

Also, Audrey said minimised rather than eradicated.

If that’s all we can pick out of the last 3 games that’s a massive improvement still…

On IFollow.

Laughable from Wilts Radio, the poor sods!! As i could see the front of the Don Rog and they couldnt and i couldnt see the Arkells!

Good morning fellow sufferers.
I made a pilgrimage to the cultural home of English football last saturday. First time since August. I have nothing to add to the comments made about how tin pot the match day experience was.. The club just isn't welcoming at all. Thank goodness I was given a ticket. I'm not giving Morph any money, not when he can't be arsed to ensure safety or a semblance of a welcome.
The positives were that the game started and completed. Well done to all for making that happen. Half way through the second half I commented that we don't look like a relegation team. Hopefully the improvement continues and that comment doesn't come back to bite me at the end of the season.
How on earth the current regime can be submitting plans for redevelopment? It won't happen but if it did go ahead it will be as good as the legend lounge floor.
See you all at the next protest.

If only the ownership was as organised, hardworking and passionate as the boots on the ground, we'd be absolutely laughing. There are some absolutely fantastic people at the club, the groundstaff this weekend take the plaudits but there are others. It's a very minor point but surely given the frankly pathetic statement made yesterday, it wouldn't have hurt to have given Povey and co a bit of credit for managing to get the game on when almost every other game was cancelled.

I'd love to see the results of the employee feedback surveys that the club almost certainly don't do!

Remember in the sixties and seventies you saw pictures of old run down grounds like The Shay and Saltergate, well that is us now a derelict dump!